From KABIRU YUSUF, Abuja

The 391 delegates had to leave Abuja in annoyance due to what they said was federal government’s inability to provide them a secretariat, working materials among other documents that could guide them on the challenging national assignment.

To facilitate their inauguration, the federal government had only provided them with accommodation, feeding and part of the transport fares for two days but failed to pay them their two days sitting allowance.

Despite these problems, the delegates had, however, briefly resolved to sit from 9 a.m. to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm from Monday to Thursday.

Last Friday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette was quoted as saying that the federal government had concluded all necessary arrangements for the delegates.

According to the report, government had decided to pay the 391 delegates all their daily entitlements fortnightly, while the chairman of the conference, his deputy and secretary are to enjoy accommodation and official vehicles throughout the duration of the conference.

The delegates are expected to deliberate on six central elements of the reform agenda which include constitutional reform, political party reform, electoral reform, judicial/legal reform, civil society reform and consultation and consensus building.

As outlined by Makarfi report, the proposed reform conference should also seek to critically examine Nigeria’s political framework and practices so as to consolidate democracy, facilitate good governance, promote development in the context of social justice so as to ensure peace and stability under the rule of law.